Scottish 好色先生TV Employers Federation says minister is 鈥渋naccessible鈥� and his portfolio too wide.
The Scottish 好色先生TV Employers Federation has attacked the industry鈥檚 lack of representation in the new Scottish parliament.

The SBEF said Scottish construction minister Henry McLeish had too many other departmental briefs in his ministerial portfolio and was unable to give construction the attention it deserved.

The SBEF has called for the appointment of a minister whose sole focus is the construction industry. It has also called for access to the executive to be improved.

Sid Patten, director of SBEF and head of the Scottish Housebuilders Association, said: 鈥淎ccess to the minister is a big problem. The minister for construction is also the minister for enterprise and lifelong learning, and he seems also to be the minister for sport. The whole thing has not been organised properly.鈥�

Patten鈥檚 comments were echoed by other construction industry insiders. The managing director of one major contractor said: 鈥淚 think there should be a minister in Scotland whose primary function is to focus on the construction industry.鈥�

Another Scottish contractor said: 鈥淭he problem is that McLeish has his eye on the first minister鈥檚 post when Donald Dewar retires. He just wants to keep his nose clean.鈥�

A spokesperson for the Scottish executive said: 鈥淢r McLeish is serious about the construction industry in Scotland, and is determined to pursue growth through closer links with other sectors like education and tourism.

鈥淭he portfolio recognises that different interests in Scotland鈥檚 economy are intrinsically linked, and these should be co-ordinated.鈥�

However, Patten said the lack of a focused minister was delaying the implementation of Egan and Westminster initiatives in Scotland. He said the SBEF had also proposed a registration scheme similar to the quality mark initiative launched by Nick Raynsford, Westminster鈥檚 minister for construction. Patten said: 鈥淎 more focused minister could provide dedicated legislation to make it unrealistic for rogue builders to work in construction.鈥�

  • The government鈥檚 proposed tax on aggregates may cost the construction industry in Scotland 拢125m and put 2500 jobs at risk, claims the Quarry Products Association Scotland.

    Iain Haldane, chairman of QPA, said: 鈥淭he so-called 鈥榞reen tax鈥� will do little to improve environmental standards; it won鈥檛 differentiate between good and bad practice or reduce other potential problems such as noise, dust or visual intrusion.鈥�